The Ultimate Cookware Cleaning Quiz

Today's cleaning supplies are made of very strong chemicals, and we don't yet know the full effects of these chemicals on the human body. Rather than take the risk of using them, why not try some clever, old-world methods to keep your cookware clean? Take our quiz and find out how to clean cookware the old-fashioned way.

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Question 1 of 20

Which of these tips will help you prevent heat stains from developing on your cookware?

Don't set your fire so high that the flames reach the sides of your cookware.

If you turn up a gas flame too high, it might reach the sides of your pot and cause heat stains. Keep the flame below the edge of your pots.

Don't use gas stoves -- electric ranges only.

Don't use cookware made of metal unless it's been soaked in vinegar.

Question 2 of 20

If you soak aluminum in soapy water, what is likely to happen?

The aluminum will soak up the taste of the soap.

The aluminum will begin to rust.

The aluminum will become discolored.

When aluminum sits in soapy water, it tends to get discolored. Don't soak your aluminum; wash it, rinse it, and dry it right away.

Question 3 of 20

The secret weapon in the war against aluminum discoloration is which of these sandwich spreads?

mayonnaise

cream of tartar

Besides tasting great, cream of tartar works well at removing discoloration from aluminum cookware.

pesto sauce

Question 4 of 20

Which of these should you use to season cast-iron pots and pans?

salt and pepper

lemon juice

vegetable oil

To season a cast-iron pan, make sure the pot has been properly cleaned, and then rub vegetable oil all over it and place the pot in a warm oven for about two hours.

Question 5 of 20

Which of these cleaning methods is most likely to remove the seasoning from a cast-iron pan?

washing by hand

using the dishwasher

The high-pressure hoses and high temperatures of a modern dishwasher will likely strip your cast-iron pan of its seasoning. Wash your cast-iron pots and pans by hand.

soaking in soapy water

Question 6 of 20

To remove clay dust from new clay cookware, you should do which of these?

Season the clay as you would season cast-iron.

Soak the clay pot in water, and then scrub the item with a stiff brush.

Always soak your new clay cookware for half of an hour, and then scrub it with a stiff brush, before using it for the first time. You don't want clay dust to get into your food.

Send the pot through a few dishwasher cycles.

Question 7 of 20

What is the purpose of parchment paper?

You use parchment paper to protect clay cookware from staining, and from soaking up food flavors.

When you cook with clay cookware, line its surface with parchment paper. This will prevent the clay from soaking up the flavors of the food you cook. It will also prevent staining.

You use parchment paper to clean cookware made of clay.

You use parchment paper to write religious texts in ancient languages.

Question 8 of 20

Before you use a new copper pot, you should check whether you need to remove what?

the price tag

the manufacturer's label

the protective lacquer coating

Many copper pots have a lacquer coating that keeps them looking shinny while they sit on the shelf. This coating must be removed before the pot can be used.

Question 9 of 20

You can make your own copper polish with which of these sets of ingredients?

lemon juice, red wine, and cider vinegar

salt, vinegar, and flour

Take 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of flour, and mix them into a paste. This paste will work as well as, if not better than, many store-bought copper polishes.

milk, cream of tartar, and olive oil

Question 10 of 20

To deodorize plastic containers, you should use which of these?

newspaper

Seal a crumpled piece of newspaper in your plastic containers to soak up any odors that have collected.

olive oil

vinegar

Question 11 of 20

What should you do to prevent water spots from forming on stainless steel?

Dry it immediately.

The sooner you dry stainless steel, the less likely it is that water spots will form on its surface.

Wash it in cold water only.

Rub olive oil on it before you wash it.

Question 12 of 20

You can use which of these to polish stainless steel?

lemon juice and steel wool

toothpaste and an old toothbrush

baking soda and a scouring pad

Sprinkle baking soda on your stainless steel pots and pans while they are still wet, and polish them with a scouring pad. Rinse and dry them to bring out the shine.

Question 13 of 20

After you've washed a non-stick pan, you should do which of these?

Sprinkle a touch of baking soda to deodorize them.

Coat them with a touch of vegetable oil.

Use vegetable oil to protect the surface of your non-stick pans. Apply a light coat of oil after each time you wash them.

Soak them in vinegar to prevent mold.

Question 14 of 20

If you soak non-stick pots and pans in soapy water, what will happen?

They will come out clean and shiny.

The non-stick coating will peel off.

The taste of the soap will seep into the pot.

Non-stick pots and pans that have been soaked on soapy water sometimes retain the flavor of the soap. No amount of garlic and tomato sauce can fix soap-flavored pasta!

Question 15 of 20

Which of these should you never wash in the dishwasher?

silverware

wooden items

Wooden items should never be washed in the dishwasher; that amount of water and heat will destroy the wood.

glass cookware

Question 16 of 20

If you want to deodorize your wooden cutting boards, what should you use?

red wine

toothpaste

lemon wedges

Rather than waste money on expensive and poisonous cleaning agents, deodorize your wooden cutting boards with lemon wedges. The acidity will disinfect the wood, and the scent of fresh lemon is quite pleasant.

Question 17 of 20

Which of these helps restore the finish on wood products?

linseed oil

Boiled linseed oil is one of the best wood polishes you can find. Rub on one coat, wait about 24 hours, and then rub on another coat if need be.

vinegar

milk

Question 18 of 20

Which of these types of cookware is always dishwasher safe?

clay

glass

The great thing about glass cookware is that it's always dishwasher safe. Don't bother cleaning these by hand, unless you’re really bored.

cast-iron

Question 19 of 20

If you left something to boil in a glass pot and now all the liquid has evaporated, what should you do?

Refill the pot immediately.

Turn off the fire, and stay as far away as possible from the pot.

Never touch, let alone refill, a glass pot that has boiled dry, because it is likely to shatter. Turn off the fire, and stay away from the pot until it has cooled down.

Pour a cup of salt into the pot to absorb the heat.

Question 20 of 20

To remove mineral deposits from glass coffee pots and teapots, what should you do?

Dust the pots with baking soda, and scrub vigorously with a steel-wool pad.

Run the pots through three consecutive dishwasher cycles at the highest temperature setting.

Boil cider vinegar in the pots for 15 minutes, and then wipe away the mineral deposits.

The acidity in vinegar helps break down mineral deposits. Boil cider vinegar in the pot for about 15 minutes, and then wipe away the deposits.